Elusive Connections Between Cancer and Emotions: A Distressing Journey for Psychologists and Their Patients

Psychologists on cancer units work on the emotional aspects and the psychological, social, and behavioral components that influence the cancer’s course. If you are a psychologist working with cancer patients or a medical professional, you probably have had ample encounters with the emotional dimensions of the illness. This article provides an overview of psychological aspects of cancer, describes the stress cancer care puts on practitioners, and delineates how cognitive behavioral and insight-oriented interventions can address psychological reactions to the illness.